The HEALTH : August 2018 | Page 9

AUGUST, 2018 | The HEALTH

CREDIT: 2010 TERESA WINSLOW

CREDIT: EPAINASSIST

Diagnosis

There are various modality by which this condition can be diagnosed. The most common one include an ultrasound scan which can detect the change in size of the kidney. A CT scan intravenous contrast might also be performed to help in the management and planning of the treatment.

“ Treatment options may include radical nephrectomy- removal of the kidney along with the neighbouring fat covering it, partial nephrectomy- removal of the cancer tissue without removing the whole kidney – this option depends on the size and location of the tumour, immunotherapy( in advanced cases, there might be a need to start patient immunotherapy and looking at response for the treatment. Nephrectomy may or may not be done at a later date), radiotherapy and chemotherapy. However, this modality of treatment is rarely done for primary tumour,” he said.

“ There are many types of cancer that can affect the kidney. The most common variant of kidney cancer is the clear type renal cell carcinoma( RCC) which is seen in more than 80 per cent of individuals. Other tumours which can involve the kidney include transitional cell carcinoma, Wilms tumour( kidney cancer that affects children), metastasis from other tumours and lymphoma.”

“ If you have one generation that has this disease, then we have a slightly higher possibility of having primary Glomerulonephritis.”

A 2012 Review of Dietary Supplement – Induced Renal Dysfunction( Gabardi, Clin J Am Soc Nephrol 2012), published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology list 15 herbs and supplements reported to have caused kidney problems including chromium, creatine, licorice, willow bark and yohimbe.

• Cranberries contain oxalate and was reported to cause kidney stones.

• Taking high doses of vitamin C has been associated with an increased risk of kidney stones.

• In diabetes patients with advanced

GLOMERULONEPHRITIS is a group of diseases that injure the part of the kidney that filters blood( called glomeruli). Other terms you may hear are nephritis and nephrotic syndrome. When the kidney is injured, it cannot get rid of wastes and extra fluid in the body. If the illness continues, the kidneys may stop working completely, resulting in kidney failure.

Sunway Medical Centre Consultant Physician and Nephrologist Dr Ng Eng Khim exphasised that there is also a subset of young patients between the age of 18 to 45 who tend to present with a disease entity of Glomerulonephritis which is an inflammation of dysfunction.

“ Most of the time, the trigger factors are unknown, but it is basically the immune system which is supposed to protect the body that turn around and starts to attack these structure. It could be an auto-immune disorder or it could be secondary to some cancer process or medications.”

The other age spectrum could be from 55 to 65 of age who might have other forms of Glomerulonephritis. He explained that these, however, doesn’ t have any hereditary linkage.

“ If you have one generation that has this disease, then we have a slightly higher possibility of having primary Glomerulonephritis.”

“ If it is secondary to something else such as consumption of certain medications- that can be a compound that triggers it all. This is the same whereby there is no linkage to genetics and is not hereditary if it is secondary to some form of cancer that eventually causes inflammation within the kidney.”

kidney disease, high daily doses of B vitamins( folate, B6 and B12) were found in one study to worsen kidney function.

• Taking very large amounts of turmeric / curcumin while on immunosuppressive drug may lead to kidney damage.

• Minerals such as potassium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus also have the potential to affect kidney function.

• Long-term exposure to excessive cadmium which accumulates in kidneys can cause irreversible kidney damage and may also weaken bones.